People are always asking why we’ve never put on the XXL Awards. Our competitors have held their award shows through the years, but XXL is usually pretty laid back and low-key, so we never really entertained the idea of doing our own.
Things felt different at the end of last year, though. We knew we weren’t ready to host a big event, but we wanted to give out some trophies and honor those who did it big in hip-hop in 2012. And we needed to include the public in the selection of the winners so we had heads vote for the five biggest categories online. All other trophy-grabbers were picked by the XXL staff, as were all the nominees.
We’ll even have acceptance speeches from some of the winners when they receive their trophies so stay tuned to XXL on Twitter for updates.
Without further ado, the winners of the first-ever XXL Awards…
Rapper of the Year Readers’ Choice
Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar was poised to have a memorable 2012. Even without major distribution or a single to increase exposure, his 2011 indie release, Section.80, landed on year-end “Best Of” lists at hip-hop and mainstream outlets alike. It should be no surprise, then, that K. Dot’s 2012 TDE/Aftermath/Interscope-backed major label debut, good kid, m.A.A.d city—an even more meticulous effort—earned similar praise. It wasn’t just because more people heard it (it debuted at No. 1 on Billboard); it was because of what they heard. Add national and international touring from the year’s start to finish, sprinkle in standout guest spots on records from the game’s biggest names—T.I., Meek Mill, Big Sean, and Mac Miller—and 2012 cemented the XXL Freshman as hip-hop’s next great hope.
Nominees: Rick Ross, 2 Chainz, Nas, Kendrick Lamar, Meek Mill
Album of the Year Readers’ Choice
Kendrick Lamar, good kid, m.a.a.d. city
The solemn materials and the production choices tie in uniformity, while the interweaving skits complete the picture. Kendrick Lamar’s solo debut, good kid, m.A.A.d city (TDE/Aftermath/Interscope), tells the story of a young K.Dot stomping through the boulevards of Compton with his cronies, partaking in teenage rampage, and eventually facing tragedy. It’s not an untold story, but how Lamar unveiled the package is what makes it so mesmerizing.
Yes, it’s early to deem it as a classic, but the fact that such a discussion occurred is a feat in itself. There’s no denying the album serves as a testament to rap’s past creative epiphanies, and sets a new standard.
Nominees: Nas Life is Good, Rick Ross God Forgives, I Don’t, Kendrick Lamar Good Kid, m.A.A.d City, Big K.R.I.T., Live From The Underground, k!ller Mike R.A.P. Music
Record of the Year Readers’ Choice
G.O.O.D. Music, “Mercy”
Kanye West and his crew of G.O.O.D. Music players dominated 2012 with their Cruel Summer smash, “Mercy.” What initially kicked off a resurrection of G.O.O.D. Fridays ultimately became an epic-sounding, double platinum giant.
Produced by Lifted, with co-production credits going to Hudson Mohawke, Mike WiLL Made It, Mike Dean and Yeezy, the record successfully built momentum for the crew’s group LP and remained an eardrum fixture on airwaves.
“Mercy” was the year’s biggest single—conquering Billboard’s Rap Songs and R&B/Hip-Hop charts and scoring the crew two 2013 Grammy-Award nominations (Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance) in the process.
Nominees: 2 Chainz ft. Drake “No Lie,” Rick Ross ft. Drake & French Montana “Stay Schemin’,” G.O.O.D. Music “Mercy,” Juicy J “Bandz A Make Her Dance,” Ca$h Out “Cashin’ Out”
Breakout Artist of the Year Readers’ Choice
Macklemore
Macklemore is an expert independent artist who knows how to play the game. Thanks to a growing, fervent fanbase, rigorous touring, digital smarts and plain old quality music, the Seattle native enjoyed a skyrocket to hip-hop fame and fortune in 2012. The 29-year-old, along with his producer, Ryan Lewis, debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 in October 2012, when their debut studio album, The Heist, moved an impressive 78,000 units in the first week.
The 2012 XXL Freshman capped his groundbreaking year with another milestone, when the single “Thrift Shop,” which has more than 50 million views on YouTube, reached platinum status. During the course of the year, the MC went from relative unknown to being respected within the hip-hop community.
Nominees: French Montana, Macklemore, Kendrick Lamar, Future, Lecrae
Mixtape of the Year Readers’ Choice
Big K.R.I.T., 4Eva NA Day
Labeling any of Big K.R.I.T.’s three free releases since 2010 as “mixtapes” seems misleading, as each project has provided production, lyrics, content, and originality exceeding that of the majority of the competition.
Released exactly three months before his Def Jam Recordings debut, Live from the Underground, 4eva Na Day was derivative of other K.R.I.T. projects in its tone and themes, but took a more conceptual approach. The multi-talented Mississippian offered a powerful[..]ortment of records built for inspiration (“Boobie Miles”), good vibes (“4eva Na Day [Theme]”), ride arounds (“Me and My Old School”), club nights (“Temptation”) and more.
Nominees: Rick Ross Rich Forever, Wiz Khalifa Taylor Allderdice, Big Sean Detroit, Action Bronson Blue Chips, Big K.R.I.T 4EvaNADay
Best Group Album
G.O.O.D. Music, Cruel Summer
Kanye West got his G.O.O.D. Music team together and delivered with the clique’s first group album, 2012’s Cruel Summer. Not instantly hailed as a classic, the compilation grew on fans with it’s share of hits (“Mercy,” “Clique,” “New God Flow,” “I Don’t Like [Remix]”) and included appearances from Yeezy, Jay-Z, Big Sean, 2 Chainz, Pusha T, Common, Kid Cudi, Ma$e, R. Kelly and more.
Nominees: G.O.O.D. Music Cruel Summer, Maybach Music Group Self Made Vol. 2, Slaughterhouse Welcome to: Our House, D-Block & Wu Tang Clan Wu Block, Odd Future Odd Future Tape Vol. 2
Best Debut Album
Kendrick Lamar, Good Kid, m.A.A.d City
The critics raved about it, and fans loved it. Los Angeles wunderkind, Kendrick Lamar, delivered a debut album far surpassing most folks expectations both creatively and commercially. good kid, m.A.A.d city (TDE/Aftermath/Interscope) boasted levels of lyricism, confidence and superb storytelling that had not been prevalent in rap for some time.
Nominees: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis The Heist, Future Pluto, Meek Mill Dreams and Nightmares, Big K.R.I.T. Live from the Underground, Kendrick Lamar good kid, m.A.A.d city
Best Slept-On Album
Roc Marciano, Reloaded
Reloaded is a seamless combination of sinister vocals and equally menacing production veneered with stains of cracked 40s on corners, and garbed with the scent of gunpowder. It’s murky, it’s anti-glitzy, and the 15-song quest of redemptive rap verses taking place in an eerie, Gotham-like backdrop just submerges the listener. The series of vignettes perhaps all end without a definite conclusion, but that’s the beauty of Roc Marciano’s nonchalance, and it’s chillingly admirable.
Nominees: Sean Price Mic Tyson, Roc Marciano Reloaded, Ka Grief Pedigree, Alchemist Russian Roulette, Skyzoo A Dream Deferred
Best EP
Curren$y and Harry Fraud, Cigarette Boats
Curren$y and Harry Fraud delivered 2012’s strongest EP offering with their five-track Vice City-themed effort, Cigarette Boats. On his third EP of the year, Spitta rhymed effortlessly over dreamy
production courtesy of La Musica De Harry Fraud. Arriving one month after Spitta’s Warner Bros. debut, The Stoned Immaculate, the release also included features from Styles P and Smoke DZA.
Nominees: Hodgy Beats Untitled EP, Mr. MFN eXquire Power and Passion EP, Curren$y and Harry Fraud Cigarette Boats, DJ Premier and Bumpy Knuckes StOoDiOtYmE, Snoop Dogg Stoners EP
Best Beat
Kanye West, Boogz & Tapez, Anthony Kilhoffer, “New God Flow”
Kanye West, along with help from Boogz & Tapez and Anthony Kilhoffer, keeps the inseparable sample tradition in hip-hop. With piano loop taken from Marcos Valle’s “Bodas De Sangue” leading the melody, along with drums and hook drawn from Ghostface k!llah’s “Mighty Healthy,” the instrumental finds its lineage in Kanye’s 2010 effort My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.
Nominees: AraabMuzik “Hammer Dance,” Jahlil Beats “Burn,” Young Chop “I Don’t Like,” Kanye West, Boogz & Tapez “New God Flow,” C-Sick “Val Venis”
Best Remix
Chief Keef ft. Kanye West, Pusha T, Big Sean & Jadakiss, “I Dont Like (remix)”
A visceral masterpiece in it’s own right, “I Don’t Like” didn’t take off instantly because people still didn’t know who Chief Keef was at the time. A Kanye West stamp of approval alongside Pusha T, Big Sean and Jadakiss in the form of “I Don’t Like (Remix)” quickly changed that.
Nominees: Chief Keef ft. Kanye West, Pusha T, Big Sean & Jadakiss “I Don’t Like (Remix),” Juicy J ft. 2 Chainz & Lil Wayne “Bandz A Make Her Dance (Remix),” Kendrick Lamar ft. Schoolboy Q, Ab-Soul & Jay Rock “The Recipe (Remix),” Future ft. Lil Wayne “Turn On The Lights (Remix),” Future ft. Diddy & Ludacris “Same Damn Time (Remix)”
Best Posse Cut
Kanye West, Big Sean, Pusha T & 2 Chainz, “Mercy”
There were plenty of dope crew cuts released in 2012 but nothing compared to the Voltron-like convergence of Kanye West, Big Sean, Pusha T and 2 Chainz’s Cruel Summer monster “Mercy.” Producer Lifted’s thumping backdrop allowed the perfect room for the foursome to boast.
Nominees: Kanye West, Big Sean, Pusha T & 2 Chainz “Mercy,” Gunplay, Stalley, Wale, Meek Mill & Kendrick Lamar “Power Circle,” A$AP Rocky ft. 2 Chainz, Drake & Kendrick Lamar “!!in’ Problem,” French Montana ft. Rick Ross, Drake & Lil Wayne “Pop That,” Chief Keef ft. Kanye West, Pusha T, Big Sean & Jadakiss “I Don’t Like (Remix)”
Best Rap/R&B Collabo Record
Frank Ocean ft. Andre 3000, “Pink Matter”
Frank Ocean tapped the elusive Andre 3000 for his record “Pink Matter,” which proved to be a main highlight on the crooner’s debut album, channel ORANGE. The celebrated OutKast MC’s silky storytelling in his elaborate verse complimented Ocean’s smooth, emotional singing with ease. If there were ever any worries that Three Stacks had lost a step, this funky jam put those to rest.
Nominees: Wiz Khalifa ft. The Weeknd “Remember You,” Frank Ocean ft. Andre 3000 “Pink Matter,” Usher ft. Rick Ross “Lemme See,” Chris Brown ft. Big Sean “Till I Die,” Rihanna ft. Future “Loveeeeeee Song”
Best Guest Verse on a Hip-Hop Record
Drake on Rick Ross’ “Stay Schemin’”
Drake kept himself out there in 2012 with a series of potent guest verses, but it was his incredible performance on Rick Ross’ “Stay Schemin’” that shined above the rest. Taking a break from his traditional sing-songy hooks and flow, Drizzy came out swinging with a plethora of hard-hitting rhymes going at any haters, old or young, that have tried to bait him into a rap battle.
Nominees: Andre 3000 on T.I.’s “Sorry,” Kendrick Lamar on Schoolboy Q’s “Blessed,” Drake on Rick Ross’ “Stay Schemin’,” Nas on Rick Ross’ “Triple Beam Dreams,” Ghostface k!llah on G.O.O.D. Music’s “New God Flow”
Best Rapper/Non-Rapper Collaboration
Justin Bieber ft. Big Sean “As Long As You Love Me”
While the pairing of Justin Bieber and Big Sean on “As Long As you Love Me” may have seemed odd to fans at first, the end result was an undeniable smash. The record dominated the airwaves and also became a certified hit, peaking at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Nominees: 50 Cent ft. Eminem and Adam Levine “My Life,” Justin Bieber ft. Big Sean “As Long As You Love Me,” B.o.B ft. Taylor Swift “Both of Us,” T.I. ft. Pink “Guns And Roses,” Justin Bieber ft. Nicki Minaj “Beauty And A Beat”
Best Rap Verse on a Justin Bieber Record
2 Chainz on Justin Bieber’s, “Boyfriend (Remix)”
Justin Bieber collaborated with a who’s who list of MCs in 2012, but it was 2 Chainz’s verse on “Boyfriend (Remix)” (which also featured Mac Miller and Asher Roth) that stood out as the most impressive guest verse on a Bieber record.
Nominees: Drake on Justin Bieber’s “Right Here,” 2 Chainz on Justin Bieber’s “Boyfriend (Remix),” Nicki Minaj on Justin Bieber’s “Beauty And A Beat,” Big Sean on Justin Bieber’s “As Long As You Love Me,” Ludacris on Justin Bieber’s “All Around The World”
Best Rapper/Producer Tandem
Chief Keef & Young Chop
At the forefront of last year’s new Chicago movement stood Chief Keef and Young Chop, whose chemistry created the most sought after sound of 2012. The powerful, menacing production of Chop played a welcoming home to Keef’s infectious, almost zombie-like approach to rapping. The duo collaborated on an[..]ortment of hit mixtape records including “I Don’t Like.”
Nominees: k!ller Mike & El-P, Harry Fraud & Smoke DZA, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Action Bronson & Party Supply, Chief Keef & Young Chop
Best Video
2 Chainz ft. Kanye West, “Birthday Song”
The second single, “Birthday Song,” off of 2 Chainz’ Def Jam Recordings debut was released to mixed reactions. But after the release of the song’s hilarious and over-the-top video, the record became a whole lot more difficult to hate on. The video captured arguably the greatest birthday party ever, complete with a wild dwarf, quintuplets getting lap dances and plenty of big booties.
Nominees: k!ller Mike “Reagan Era,” Action Bronson “The Symbol,” 2 Chainz ft. Kanye West “Birthday Song,”
G.O.O.D. Music “Mercy,” Drake ft. Lil Wayne “HYFR”
Best Producer
Mike WiLL Made It
Responsible for the beats on a chunk of hit records in 2012, including 2 Chainz’s Billboard chart topper “No Lie,” Juicy J’s infectious “Bandz A Make Her Dance,” Future’s “Turn On the Lights,” Rihanna’s “Pour It Up,” and more, producer Mike WiLL Made It had a huge year. The producer has effectively transformed himself from being ‘the guy who created Maybach Music Group’s smash “Tupac Back”’ into one of game’s premier go-to beatsmiths.
Nominees: Young Chop, Harry Fraud, Mike WiLL Made It, Hit-Boy, Jahlil Beats
Best Comeback
Juicy J
Aligning himself with Wiz Khalifa and Taylor Gang ended up being one of the best decisions of Juicy J’s storied career. The move introduced the hip-hop vet to a fresh, younger fan base who may have otherwise never even heard of the Three 6 Mafia co-founder. Then came “Bandz A Make Her Dance,” an instant classic in gentlemen’s clubs everywhere, which ended up peaking at No. 29 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart.
Nominees: Juicy J, El-P, Nas, Gucci Mane, Ma$e
Best Dressed
A$AP Rocky
Always freshly dressed from head to toe, A$AP Rocky made the strongest case as the game’s most fashionable rapper in 2012. The Harlemite was able to carve out his spot in the fashion world thanks to innate style ability. One day he’s spotted rocking the fan-favorited “Comme Des !!down” beanie along with a pair of Air Jordans and another day he’s looking fresh off the runway with a Balmain Raccoon Fur jacket, Givenchy shirt and a pair of Balenciagas.
Nominees: French Montana, A$AP Rocky, Kanye West, Big Sean, 2 Chainz
Best Rapper Reality Show
T.I., The Family Hustle
In it’s second season, VH1’s, “T.I. and Tiny: The Family Hustle” gives viewers a glance into T.I.’s world as both a father and husband. In the midst of work, family drama, parental responsibilities and good times, T.I. and wife Tiny show the public their love for each other and the importance of a family unit. The hip-hop couple also imparts a plethora of life lessons on their brood.
Nominees: Jim Jones Chrissy & Mr. Jones, Game Marrying the Game, Stevie J, Benzino Love & Hip-Hop: Atlanta, DMX Couples Therapy, T.I. The Family Hustle
Best Ad-Libber
Big Sean
Already known for his catchy ad-libs, Big Sean upped the ante in 2012 with more favorites, such as “Oh God” and “Swerve.” The playful ad-libs made up by the G.O.O.D. Music rhymester were made popular with Big Sean’s appearance on some of the G.O.O.D. crew’s hottest tracks, including “Clique,” and “Mercy.” Whether quoted, referenced or hashtagged, Sean’s popular, quirky, vocal additions quickly became part of hip-hop’s vernacular.
Nominees: Big Sean, 2 Chainz, Chief Keef, French Montana, Rick Ross
http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2013/02/xxl-awards-winners/
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